Apparatus, methods and storage medium for performing polarization-based quadrature demodulation in optical coherence tomography

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, method and storage medium which can provide at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to a sample and at least one second electromagnetic radiation to a reference, such that the first and/or second electromagnetic radiations have a spectrum which changes over time. In addition, a first polarization component of at least one third radiation associated with the first radiation can be combined with a second polarization component of at least one fourth radiation associated with the second radiation with one another. The first and second polarizations may be specifically controlled to be at least approximately orthogonal to one another.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/708,271, filed Aug. 9, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

The research leading to the present invention was supported, at least in part, by National Institute of Health, Grant numbers R33 CA110130 and R01 HL076398. Thus, the U.S. government may have certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus, methods and storage medium for processing signals based on optical coherence tomography techniques, and more particularly to a demodulation of Fourier-Domain optical coherence tomography signals usable for high-resolution cross-sectional imaging of turbid, semi-turbid, and transparent samples, including various biological samples.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Optical coherence tomography (“OCT”) techniques generally provides cross-sectional images of biological samples with a resolution on the scale of several to tens of microns. Conventional OCT techniques, such as time-domain OCT (“TD-OCT”) techniques, can generally use low-coherence interferometry procedures to achieve depth ranging within a sample. In contrast, Fourier-Domain OCT (“FD-OCT”) techniques can use spectral-radar procedures to achieve depth ranging within the sample. FD-OCT techniques allow higher imaging speeds dues to an improved signal-to-noise performance and an elimination of a mechanically-scanned interferometer reference arm. A standard implementation of the spectral ranging technique in the FD-OCT systems does not provide an ability to discriminate between objects at positive and negative displacements relative to the interferometric path-matched depth. This likely depth degeneracy (alternately referred to as complex conjugate ambiguity) may limit the imaging depth within the sample to either positive or negative depths (which may prevent depth ranging ambiguity), effectively reducing the inherent imaging depth by a predetermined factor (e.g., a factor of two).

Depth degeneracy in the FD-OCT systems can result from the detection of only the real component of the generally complex interference fringe between the sample arm and the reference arm. If the complex interferogram is detected, the above-described depth degeneracy can be eliminated or at least reduced. Various demodulation techniques have been implemented to allow for a measurement of the complex interferogram. Such conventional techniques include phase shifting techniques, fused 3×3 coupler demodulation techniques, and frequency-shifting techniques. The phase shifting techniques generally use an active phase modulator element in the interferometer to dynamically adjust the relative phase between the sample arm and the reference arm. Multiple interferograms at various phase shifts may be measured and combined to produce the complex interferogram. One of the disadvantages of this conventional technique is that the interferograms are measured successively in time. This type of measurement reduces the system imaging speed, and allows for phase-drifts in the interferometer to degrade the measurement accuracy. The fused 3×3 couplers can yield interferograms on each of the 3 output ports that are phase-shifted relative to one another. The phase shift may depend on the coupling ratio. For example, these outputs can be detected and recombined to yield the complex interferogram if the relative phase relationships are known. High temperature, wavelength, and polarization sensitivity of the fused 3×3 (and in general fused N×N) coupler is used in a limited manner in many interferometer demodulation schemes as requiring an accurate demodulation. Conventional frequency shifting techniques have been successfully applied to optical frequency domain imaging systems. However, these techniques are not know to have been used in the SD-OCT systems. One of the reasons therefor is that such frequency shifting techniques usually utilize active elements, and have potentially limited optical bandwidths. Further, these techniques are generally not directly compatible with nonlinear triggering to remove source sweep nonlinearities.

Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the deficiencies as described herein above.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

To address and/or overcome the above-described problems and/or deficiencies, exemplary embodiments of systems, methods and software arrangements in accordance with the present invention are provided for performing all-optical, passive, quadrature demodulation of the FD-OCT interferometric outputs. Particular optical elements can be utilized to optically create quadrature components of a complex interferogram. Detection and appropriate recombination of these quadrature outputs can allow measurement of the complex interferogram. As such, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention facilitate the elimination or at least a reduction of image range limitations due to the depth degeneracy.

When used in an optical frequency domain imaging (“OFDI”) system, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention allow for both a polarization-diversity detection and a balanced-detection for a removal or a reduction of a source intensity noise. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be combined with nonlinear triggering so as to facilitate, e.g., a substantial reduction of post-processing requirements, which may be important for high-speed imaging.

When used with the SD-OCT system, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention facilitate an increase (e.g., a doubling) of the imaging depth range.

Thus, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus, method and storage medium which can provide at least one first electromagnetic radiation to a sample and at least one second electromagnetic radiation to a reference, such that the first and/or second electromagnetic radiations have a spectrum which changes over time. In addition, a first polarization component of at least one third radiation associated with the first radiation can be combined with a second polarization component of at least one fourth radiation associated with the second radiation with one another. The first and second polarizations may be specifically controlled to be at least approximately orthogonal to one another.

In addition, at least one signal derived from an interference between the first and second polarization components can be detected. The signal and/or the further signal may be modified into a first modified signal and/or a second modified signal, respectively, as function of predetermined data. A plurality of signals which are the signal and/or the further signal can be obtained, statistical characteristics of the plurality of signals can be determined, and the predetermined data may be derived based on the statistical characteristics.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a difference of a phase of the first and second modified signals can be closer to approximately np+p/2 than a difference between a phase of the signal and/or the first signal, where n is an integer and greater than or equal to 0. Phases of the interference and the further interference may be substantially different from one another. A difference of phases of the interference and the further interference may be substantially np+p/2, where n is an integer and greater than or equal to 0. The fourth radiation and at least a portion of the third radiation may have at least one delay with respect to one another, and an image can be produced as a function of the delay, the signal and the further signal. The delay may include at least one positive section and at least one negative section, and a distinction can be made between at least portions of the image that have positive and negative sections. The sign and magnitude of the delay can be measured.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an arrangement, method and storage arrangement can provide at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to a sample and at least one second electromagnetic radiation to a reference, such that the first and/or second electromagnetic radiations have a spectrum which changes over time. In addition, a first signal can be generated as a function a first interference between at least one third radiation associated with the first radiation and at least one fourth radiation associated with the second radiation, and a second signal as a function a second interference between the third radiation associated and the fourth radiation. The first and second interferences can be different from one another. An arrangement which has a birefringence associated therewith can be provided for specifically controlling, as a function of the birefringence, a difference in phases of the first and second interferences to exclude np, where n is an integer and greater than or equal to 0.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures showing illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1a is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an FD-OCT system schematic;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a polarization-based demodulation optical arrangement which uses bulk-optic components in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the arrangement of FIG. 2 modified to allow a balanced-detection for a source noise subtraction;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a further exemplary embodiment of the arrangement of FIG. 3 modified to allow both the balanced-detection and the polarization-diversity detection;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of an optical demodulation arrangement which can be functionally equivalent to the arrangement of FIG. 4 and modified to use most or all fiber-optic components;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of still another exemplary embodiment of the FD-OCT system in accordance with the present invention modified to incorporate a phase modulator used for calibration of any of the exemplary arrangements shown in FIGS. 2-5;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary method according to the present invention for a calibration of the exemplary systems of the present invention and an operation of such systems;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of one exemplary implementation of an OFDI system according to the present invention which can use any of the exemplary demodulation optical arrangements according to the present invention;

FIGS. 9A-9D are graphs of exemplary resulting measured A-lines received from the exemplary system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10A is a graph of an exemplary measured axial point spread function shown with and without the chirped clock;

FIG. 10B is a graph of an exemplary voltage-controlled oscillator (“VCO”) drive waveform for an unchirped (e.g., constant voltage curve) clock and a chirped clock; and

FIGS. 11A and 11B are images of human skin with and without the use of the complex demodulation, respectively.

Throughout the figures, the same reference numerals and characters, unless otherwise stated, are used to denote like features, elements, components or portions of the illustrated embodiments. Moreover, while the subject invention will now be described in detail with reference to the figures, it is done so in connection with the illustrative embodiments. It is intended that changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the subject invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Theory of Exemplary Embodiments of the Invention

Fourier-Domain OCT techniques generally achieve depth-ranging using spectral-radar techniques in which reflections from a sample interfere with a reference beam, and the resulting interferogram can be measured as a function of optical wavelength. An exemplary embodiment of an FD-OCT system in accordance with the present is shown schematically in FIG. 1. The exemplary system of FIG. 1 includes a source 100 that generates an output which is split into a sample arm and a reference arm by a coupler 105. The sample arm light can be directed to a sample to be imaged 130. A focusing lens 125 can be used to achieve high transverse resolution. Reflections from this sample are collected by the same fiber and returned through a second coupler 115 to an output coupler 110. The reference arm light is input on the other port of this output coupler 110. The interference is detected by a receiver 120 as a function of wavelength. In an exemplary embodiment of an OFDI system in accordance with the present invention, this receiver can be a single photoreceiver which detects the output as a function of time while a narrowband source sweeps its output wavelength as a function of time. In an exemplary embodiment of an SD-OCT system in accordance with the present invention, such receiver can be a spectrometer, which records the power at many wavelength through the use of a grating in combination with a line-scan camera. For a reflection at depth z where z=0 corresponds to a zero path-length mismatch between the sample arm light and reference arm light, the interference term of the receiver output as a function of wavenumber k can be given by the following: S(k)∝P(k)√{square root over (R)} _(ref) R _(s) cos(2zk+φ _(z)) where P(k) is the source power, R_(ref) is the reference arm power transmission including coupling losses from the source to the receiver, R_(s) is the power reflectance of the sample arm due to a reflection at depth z, and φ_(z) is the phase of the sample arm reflectance.

The amplitude and depth of the reflection can be given by the magnitude and frequency of the measured signal as a function of wavenumber. Fourier transformation (FT) of the detected fringe with appropriate subtraction of the non-interferometric terms can yield the complex reflectivity as a function of depth, a(z), a(z′)=FT(S(k))

The sign of the depth position (sign of z) is encoded in the sign of the resulting frequency (positive frequency or negative frequency). Because S(k) is real-valued, it would be difficult to differentiate between positive and negative frequencies. Thus, a reflectance at +z may not be able to be distinguished from a reflectance at −z. This is what generates the depth degeneracy of Fourier-Domain OCT techniques. A detection of quadrature outputs, e.g., interference signals phased at 90° relative to each other, can remove this depth degeneracy. Consider the detection of the quadrature components S_(Q)(k) and S_(I)(k), S _(Q)(k)∝P(k)√{square root over (R _(ref) R _(s))} cos(2zk+φ _(z)) S _(I)(k)∝P(k)√{square root over (R _(ref) R _(s))} sin(2zk+φ _(z)) from which the complex signal, {tilde over (S)}(k), can be formed as {tilde over (S)}(k)=S _(Q)(k)+iS _(I)(k)=P(k)√{square root over (R _(ref) R _(s))}e ^(i(2zk+φ) ^(z) ⁾ and the depth reflectivity ã(k) is given by the FT of this complex signal, {tilde over (a)}(z′)=FT({tilde over (S)}(k)).

Because {tilde over (S)}(k) is complex, it is possible to differentiate between positive and negative frequencies, and as a result eliminate the degeneracy between positive and negative depths. In conventional FD-OCT systems, the image depth is limited to positive depths to prevent degeneracy/ambiguity between signals from positive and negative depths. The maximum imaging range in such conventional systems is limited by fringe washout which is a decrease in signal amplitude for increasing depth. The imaging depth in the conventional FD-OCT systems is then between z=0 and z=+z1. Using exemplary embodiments of complex demodulation techniques in accordance with the present invention, the depth degeneracy can be reduced or removed, which allows imaging to occur from −z1 to +z1, thus providing twice the image depth range of the conventional FD-OCT systems.

Exemplary Embodiment of an Optical Demodulation Circuit/Arrangement

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical circuit/arrangement can be provided for generating the quadrature signals S_(Q)(k) and S_(I)(k) usable for a complex demodulation. FIG. 2 shows one such exemplary embodiment which is directed to an optical demodulation circuit/arrangement. In this exemplary circuit arrangement, a reference arm light is collimated by collimating optics 415, and directed to a first port 420 b of a polarizing beamsplitter (“PBS”) 420. The polarization controller 401 enables the reference arm light to be reflected to an output port 420 c. A sample arm 405 light generated by this exemplary circuit/arrangement is collimated by collimating optics 410, and directed to a second input port 420 a of the PBS 420. The S-polarized light in the sample arm can be directed to the output port 420 c. The combined reference and sample arm light propagate to a beamsplitter (e.g., non-polarizing) 425, which can split substantially equal portions of this light to the output ports 425 a, 425 b. The light output on the port 425 a travels through a first birefringent element 430, and then to a polarizer 435 oriented such that the transmitted polarization state is normal to the plane of the image. The light is then collected by an output fiber 460 through focusing optics 450. This collected light is subsequently detected by a detector 461 which can include a spectrometer adapted for a spectral-domain OCT system or a single photoreceiver adapted for an optical frequency domain imaging system. A similar analysis can be applied to the light which exist the port 425 b, and which has access to a birefringent element (1) 440 before the eventual detection thereof on via the detector 466.

The detected interference signal on output 2 for a single reflectance at position z can be provided as: S ₂(k)≈B ₂(k)P(k)√{square root over (R_(ref) R _(s))} cos(2zk+φ _(z)+χ₂(k)) where B₂(k), and χ₂(k) are functions of the birefringent element 2430. The output 1 on the fiber 465 can likewise be provided as: S ₁(k)≈B ₁(k)P(k)√{square root over (R_(ref) R _(s))} cos(2zk+φ _(z)+χ₁(k)) where B₁(k), and χ₁(k) are functions of the birefringent element (1) 440. An appropriate selection of the birefringent elements can facilitate output signals with relative phase shift of 90°. For example, if the birefringent element (1) 440 is selected to be a quarter-wave plate oriented with its fast or slow axis at 45° relative to the vector normal to the plane of the image, and the birefringent element (2) 430 is selected to be a 45° Faraday rotator, then the phase difference between the outputs, χ₂(k)−χ₁(k), is approximately 90° and B₁(k)=B₂(k), thus providing the following: S ₁(k)≈S _(Q)(k)∝P(k)√{square root over (R_(ref) R _(s))} cos(2zk+φ _(z)) S ₂(k)≈S ₁(k)∝P(k)√{square root over (R_(ref) R _(s))} sin(2zk+φ _(z))

It should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that additional combinations of the birefringent elements (1) and (2) can be used to generate quadrature signals, and that the orientations of the polarizer 445, 435 can also be adjusted to produce the quadrature signals. These signals may be combined post-detection to produce the complex interference signal in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows another exemplary embodiment of the demodulation optical circuit/arrangement in accordance with the present invention that is configured to achieve a quadrature detection with a balanced-detection for a removal of source intensity noise as well as auto-correlation noise from the sample. The operation is the arrangement of FIG. 3 is substantially similar to that of FIG. 2 except that the polarizers of FIG. 4 have been replaced by a polarizing beamsplitter (PBS) cubes 500, 530. Both output ports of the PBS cubes 500 can be detected, and their signals are preferably subtracted in the balanced receiver. In this exemplary configuration, the interference signal can be increased, and the noise fluctuations from the noise may be subtracted. The output of balanced-receivers 525, 555 of this exemplary arrangement provide the quadrature interference signals to be combined to form the complex interference signal.

FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of the optical circuit arrangement according to the present invention, which is a modification of the arrangement of FIG. 3. In particular, the arrangement of FIG. 4 allows for a detection of a polarization-diversity. The polarization diversity enables a detection of the interference fringe which can result from the sample that ate are light in both polarizations. The polarization controller 600 of the arrangement of FIG. 4 can be configured to direct substantially equal portions of the reference arm power to both output ports of the first PBS 601. Each output port of the first PBS 601 detects the sample arm light arriving in a given polarization. The circuit 590 is substantially the same as the one shown in FIG. 3, and may be repeated on a fourth PBS output port 592. In this exemplary configuration, outputs A and B describe one signal polarization, and outputs C and D describe the other signal polarization.

FIG. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment of the demodulation optical circuit/arrangement according to the present invention that may be functionally equivalent or similar to the circuit/arrangement of FIG. 4, and constructed from fiber-optic components. For example, the birefringent elements of FIG. 4 can be replaced by polarization controllers 610 a, 615 a, 610 b, 615 b which are adjusted such that quadrature signals are created on output ports 625 a and 625 b, and likewise quadrature outputs can be generated on output ports 625 c and 625 d.

In the exemplary configurations that utilize bulk-optic birefringent elements (as shown in FIGS. 2-4), the birefringence elements can be selected to generate quadrature components which are phase-shifted by 90°. In the fiber-optic configuration of FIG. 5, the polarization controllers may be adjusted while the interference fringes can be monitored such that approximately a 90° phase shift is induced. The deviations in the phase shift from 90° can be measured and corrected for as described herein below.

Calibration

For example, the measured signals will not be exactly in quadrature and thus a calibration procedure must be used to create quadrature signals from the measured signals. Assume that the measured signals are given by S _(Q)(k)=A _(Q)(k)+B _(Q)(k)cos(φ) S ₁(k)=A ₁(k)+B ₁(k)sin(φ+ζ((k)) where φ is the interferometric phase difference containing the depth-information. The parameters A_(Q), B_(Q), A_(I), B_(I), and ζ can be determined by the source spectrum and demodulation circuit. If the parameters are known, exact quadrature signals can be constructed as follows:

$\begin{matrix} {{S_{Q}^{\prime} = {{B_{Q}{\cos(\phi)}} = {S_{Q} - A_{Q}}}}{S_{I}^{\prime} = {{B_{Q}{\sin(\phi)}} = \frac{{\left( \frac{B_{Q}}{B_{I}} \right)\left( {S_{1} - A_{1}} \right)} - {\left( {S_{Q} - A_{Q}} \right){\sin(\zeta)}}}{\cos(\zeta)}}}} & (1) \end{matrix}$ where the explicit dependence on k of the parameters is not described herein for the sake of clarity. A_(Q) and A_(I) can be measured using either of the following methods:

-   -   (a) The sample arm light is blocked, and the output can be         recorded as a function of k. Because the returned sample arm         power is much less than the reference arm power, A_(Q)(k) and         A_(I)(k) are determined by the detected reference arm power         without any interference; and/or     -   (b) The parameters A_(Q)(k) and A_(I)(k) can be measured by         record the signals with or without reflections from the sample         arm and taking the average over a significant number of         measurements. Because the interference terms averages to zero         due to interferometer drift, the average yields A_(Q),A_(I).         Alternatively, a phase modulator can be placed in the         interferometer in either the reference arm or sample arm. FIG. 6         illustrates such exemplary embodiment of the circuit/arrangement         which includes a phase modulator 700 that is placed in the         reference arm. This phase modulator 700 can be used to ensure         that the interferometer phase is randomized over the period of         time that A is being measured. If the phase modulation is much         less than π over the time period of one A-line, this phase         modulator 700 can remain active during imaging. Otherwise, it         should be turned off during the imaging procedure.

The ratio of B_(Q)(k) to B_(I)(k) can be measured by recording the output with a reflection in the sample arm, ideally with the phase modulator 700 of FIG. 6 on, otherwise over a long enough time to ensure random distributions of phase. The ratio can be provided as follows:

$\begin{matrix} {\left( \frac{B_{Q}}{B_{l}} \right)^{2} = \frac{\left\langle {\Delta\; S_{Q}^{2}} \right\rangle}{\left\langle {\Delta\; S_{I}^{2}} \right\rangle}} & (2) \end{matrix}$ where

${\left\langle {\Delta\; x^{2}} \right\rangle = {\frac{1}{n}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n}\left( {x_{i} - \overset{\_}{x}} \right)^{2}}}},$ and the summation i is over samples at a given wavenumber k.

The parameter ζ can be calculated as follows:

$\begin{matrix} {\frac{\left\langle {\Delta\left( {S_{Q} + S_{I}} \right)}^{2} \right\rangle - \left\langle {\Delta\; S_{Q}^{2}} \right\rangle - \left\langle {\Delta\; S_{I}^{2}} \right\rangle}{2\sqrt{\left\langle {\Delta\; S_{Q}^{2}} \right\rangle\left\langle {\Delta\; S_{I}^{2}} \right\rangle}} = {\sin(\zeta)}} & (3) \end{matrix}$

The exemplary embodiment of a procedure according to the present invention to perform such determination is shown in FIG. 7. In particular, in step 655, the polarization controllers (“PCs”) can be configured to provide output signal phased at approximately 90 degrees (if the fiber configuration of FIG. 5 is utilized). In step 660, signals S_(Q)(k) and S_(I)(k) are measured, while reference arm position or phase is modulated. In step 665, the following is calculated: A_(Q)(k)=<S_(Q)(k)>, and A_(I)(k)=<S_(I)(k)> using formulas (2) and (3) above. These steps are performed during the system calibration. The steps described below are performed during the use of the system. For example, in step 670, signals S_(Q)(k) and S_(I)(k) are measured, and in step 675, the fringes are calculated using the equation (1). Then, in step 680, a complex signal S_(Q)′+sqrt(−1)*S_(I)′ is constructed.

The exemplary embodiment of the system according to the present invention (e.g., of the exemplary OFDI system) is shown in FIG. 8. For example, the laser 700 output swept over 105 nm centered at 1325 nm can be provided for the exemplary system. This exemplary source can be split into a sample arm 705 (e.g., 90%) and a reference arm 710 (e.g., 10%). A portion of the reference arm light can be directed to a fiber Bragg grating (“FBG”) 715, thus generating a reflected optical pulse that is detected and converted to a TTL trigger signal. The remainder of the reference arm light can pass through a variable optical delay (e.g., used to path-length match the interferometer), and provided on one port of a fiber-pigtailed polarization beam combiner (“PBC”) 720. The polarization controller 725 (“PC”) in the reference arm 710 can be used to maximize the coupling of the reference arm light to the PBC output port. The reflected sample arm light is directed to the other input port of the PBC. One polarization state of this light can be coupled to the PBC output port. Following the PBC is the optical demodulation circuit that uses polarization-based biasing to generate an in-phase signal, S_(I), and a quadrature signal, S_(Q), for each interference fringe.

In this manner, the complex interference signal (S_(I)+iS_(Q)) can be constructed. Because the complex signal indicates the direction of phase flow, it allows unambiguous discrimination between positive and negative optical delays and eliminates depth degeneracy. To illustrate the demodulation circuit, the reference arm light and the sample arm light can be orthogonally polarized on the output port of the first PBC in FIG. 8, and thus the state of polarization of the light is modulated instead of the intensity. This light can be split by the 50/50 coupler 730, and each output may be directed to a PC 735 a,735 b followed by a polarization beam splitter (PBS) 740 a,740 b that converts the polarization modulation to intensity modulation. Arbitrarily, the signal from the upper path is defined as S_(I) and from the lower path as S_(Q). In each, path the polarization controllers 735 a, 735 b is set to split the reference arm light equally between the two output ports of the PBSs 740 a, 740 b, and the outputs are connected to balanced-receivers 745 a,745 b to provide subtraction of intensity noise. Within the constraint of equally splitting the reference arm power among the output ports, the phase of S_(I) and S_(Q) can be arbitrarily set by manipulation of the corresponding PC. In our system, a relative phasing of 90° between S_(I) and S_(Q) is likely induced.

Using the measured signals S_(I) and S_(Q) to directly form the complex interference signal (e.g., without any correction post-detection) can result in a moderate extinction between positive and negative depths. FIG. 9A shows a graph of a measured A-line of a stationary mirror at a depth of +1.7 mm calculated by the direct use of the measured signals S_(I) and S_(Q). The resultant extinction shown in this graph is 30 dB. To improve the extinction, a corrected signal, Ŝ_(Q), can be calculated from the measured signals S_(I) and S_(Q) using previously acquired calibration data that describes the state of the optical demodulation circuit. The in-phase signal at a given wavenumber k may be given by S_(I)=B sin(φ), and that the quadrature signal is provided by S_(Q)=αB cos(φ−ε), where α and ε describe the deviation of S_(Q) from the true quadrature signal (α=1 and ε=0 for a true quadrature signal). It can be assumed that the DC component has been subtracted. A corrected quadrature signal Ŝ_(Q) to the measured in-phase signal S_(I) is given by Ŝ _(Q) ≡B cos(φ)=(α cos(ε))³¹ ¹ S _(Q)−tan(ε)S _(I).

A statistical method can be used to measure the parameters α and ε (all functions of wavenumber k) for a given setting of the optical demodulation circuit. Multiple interference fringes can be recorded in the presence of a sample arm reflection while the reference arm position is slowly displaced over a few microns with a piezo-translator. The resulting dataset may contain signals S_(Q) and S_(I) at each wavenumber with a quasi-randomized distribution in phase (φ) (due to the reference arm dithering). The calibration parameters can then be calculated statistically as follows:

α = σ_(S_(Q))σ_(S_(I))⁻¹ ${\sin(ɛ)} = \frac{\sigma_{({S_{Q} - S_{I}})}^{2} - \sigma_{(S_{Q})}^{2} - \sigma_{(S_{Q})}^{2}}{2\sigma_{(S_{Q})}\sigma_{(S_{I})}}$ where σ_(x) is the standard deviation (over sample number) of the measured signal x and is a function of wavenumber. In these experiments, the reference mirror was translated by a few microns with a 30 Hz triangular waveform and signals were recorded over a time period of 3 seconds at an A-line rate of 15.6 kHz. FIG. 9B shows same A-line as in FIG. 9A but using the corrected complex signal, (S_(I)+iŜ_(Q)). The extinction is improved from 30 dB to greater than 50 dB. FIGS. 9C and 9D show A-lines measured at mirror depths of +0.4 mm and −1.3 mm. Each of FIGS. 9B-9D used the same previously derived calibration parameters α and ε and achieve greater than 50 dB extinction. With proper environmental shielding of the optical demodulation circuit, the calibration coefficients remained valid over periods greater than 60 minutes. The sensitivity of the system was measured to vary from 107 dB near a depth of +0.2 mm to 103 dB at a depth of +2.0 mm.

To demonstrate chirped-clock sampling, a clock generator 750 (see FIG. 8) using a voltage-controlled oscillator circuit. The output clock frequency is controlled through an analog voltage input and can be swept phase-continuously with a smoothly varying analog input waveform. This waveform is generated by the data acquisition (DAQ) 765 electronics and is repeated for each sweep of the source. The waveform is triggered from the same trigger signal used for data acquisition and is thus synchronized to the source sweep. FIG. 10A shows the measured axial point spread function of a mirror located at a displacement of approximately −1.1 mm from the zero differential delay point using both a constant frequency clock signal and a chirped frequency clock signal. FIG. 10B shows the analog waveform input to the VCO clock circuit for both the constant frequency and chirped frequency clock signals. A straightforward iterative routine was used to set the find the optimal VCO analog waveform for a given configuration of the source. This waveform remains valid until the source is reconfigured. Using the chirped frequency clock signal, the axial resolution of was measured to be 13.5-14.5 μm in air and is transform limited across the full imaging depth range.

Images of a human finger in-vivo acquired at an A-line rate of 15.6 kHz are shown in FIG. 11. The image size is 5 mm transverse by 4.3 mm depth (500×408). The depth resolution is 14 μm in air and the transverse resolution is 25 μm. The imaging frame rate is 30 fps. In FIG. 11A, the image is generated based on only the in-phase signal SI, showing the effect of depth-degeneracy. In FIG. 11B, the complex signal is used and the depth-degeneracy artifacts are removed, allowing unambiguous imaging over 4.3 mm.

The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. Indeed, the arrangements, systems and methods according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be used with any OCT system, OFDI system, SD-OCT system or other imaging systems, and for example with those described in International Patent Application PCT/US2004/029148, filed Sep. 8, 2004, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/266,779, filed Nov. 2, 2005, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/501,276, filed Jul. 9, 2004, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements and methods which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, to the extent that the prior art knowledge has not been explicitly incorporated by reference herein above, it is explicitly being incorporated herein in its entirety. All publications referenced herein above are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a first structural arrangement which includes a radiation generator source providing a particular radiation, a coupler and a beam splitter, the beam splitter splitting the particular radiation into a first optical electro-magnetic radiation which is to a sample and a second optical electro-magnetic radiation to a reference, wherein the source causes the particular radiation to have a spectrum which changes over time; an optical second structural arrangement which includes a polarization beam combiner that combines a first polarization component of a third radiation based on the first radiation and a second polarization component of a fourth radiation based on the second radiation with one another, wherein the polarization beam combiner is part of a configuration which ensures that the first and second polarization components are at least approximately orthogonal to one another; a third arrangement which includes a first optical detector that detects a first optical signal derived from a first interference between a first set of the first and second polarization components to generate a first digital signal, wherein the third arrangement includes a second optical detector that detects a second optical signal derived from a second interference between a second set of the first and second polarization components to generate a second digital signal; and a fourth arrangement which includes a computer that modifies at least one of the first digital signal or the second digital signal based on particular data such that the first and second digital signals are in a quadrature relationship with one another.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a further structural arrangement which controls the computer to obtain the predetermined data based on at least one of a characteristic or a state of the fourth arrangement.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fourth arrangement generates a plurality of signals which include at least one of the particular signal or the further signal, determines statistical characteristics of the plurality of signals, and derives the particular data based on the statistical characteristics.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fourth arrangement specifically modifies a difference between a phase of the particular modified signal and a phase of the further modified signal to be closer to approximately nπ+π/2 than a difference between a phase of the particular signal or a phase of the further signal, where n is an integer and greater than
 0. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the computer specifically controls phases of the first interference and the second interference, respectively, to be substantially different from one another.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the computer specifically controls a difference of phases of the first interference and the second interference, respectively, to be substantially nπ+π/2, where n is an integer and greater than or equal to
 0. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fourth radiation and at least a portion of the third radiation have at least one delay with respect to one another, and further comprising a structural fifth arrangement which produces an image as a function of the at least one delay, the signal and the further signal.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one delay includes at least one positive delay section and at least one negative delay section, and wherein the fourth arrangement distinguishes between at least portions of the image derived from the third electro-magnetic radiation which has substantially positive and negative delay sections with respect to the fourth electro-magnetic radiation, and wherein at least one section of the image is based on a location of the reference.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the fourth structural arrangement measures the sign and magnitude of the at least one delay.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second arrangement controls the first and second polarizations to be at least approximately orthogonal to one another.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a further structural arrangement including at least one of a polarization beam combiner or a birefringent optical element which specifically controls the first and second polarizations to be at least one of approximately or substantially orthogonal to one another.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second arrangement includes a polarization beam splitting arrangement.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a further arrangement including at least one of a polarization beam combiner or a birefringent optical element which specifically controls the first and second polarizations to be at least approximately orthogonal to one another.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third arrangement is a non-anatomical structure.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the configuration of the second arrangement includes at least one of a polarization beam combiner or a birefringent optical element that ensures that the first and second polarization components are at least approximately orthogonal to one another for all polarization states of all of the third electro-magnetic radiations.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the configuration of the second arrangement includes at least one of a polarization beam combiner or a birefringent optical element that ensures that the first and second polarization components of every combined respective one of the third and fourth electro-magnetic radiations are at least approximately orthogonal to one another.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein that the third radiation is based on a radiation coming from the sample, and the fourth radiation is based on a radiation coming from the reference.
 18. A method, comprising: providing a first optical electro-magnetic radiation to a sample and a second optical electro-magnetic radiation to a reference, wherein at least one of the electro-magnetic radiation or the second electro-magnetic radiation has a spectrum which changes over time; combining a first polarization component of a third radiation based on the first radiation and a second polarization component of a fourth radiation based on the second radiation with one another; providing a configuration to ensure that the first and second polarization components are at least approximately orthogonal to one another; and detecting first optical signal derived from a first interference between a first set of the first and second polarization components to generate a first digital signal; detecting a second optical signal derived from a second interference between a second set of the first and second polarization components to generate a second digital signal; and modifying at least one of the first digital signal or the second digital signal based on particular data such that the first and second digital signals are in a quadrature relationship with one another.
 19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising obtaining a plurality of signals which are at least one of the particular signal or the further signal, determining statistical characteristics of the plurality of signals, and deriving the determined data based on the statistical characteristics.
 20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising specifically modifying a difference of a phase between the particular modified signal and the further modified signal to be closer to approximately nπ+π/2 than a difference between a phase of the particular signal and a phase of the further signal, where n is an integer and greater than or equal to
 0. 21. The method according to claim 18, wherein phases of the first interference and the second interference, respectively, are substantially different from one another.
 22. The method according to claim 18, wherein a difference of phases of the first interference and the second interference, respectively, are substantially nπ+π/2, where n is an integer and greater than or equal to
 0. 23. The method according to claim 18, wherein the fourth radiation and at least a portion of the third radiation have at least one delay with respect to one another, and further comprising producing an image as a function of the delay, the signal and the further signal.
 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one delay includes at least one positive delay section and at least one negative delay section, and further comprising distinguishing between at least portions of the image derived from the third electromagnetic radiation which has substantially positive and negative delay sections with respect to the fourth electromagnetic radiation, and wherein at least one section of the image is based on a location of the reference.
 25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising measuring the sign and magnitude of the at least one delay.
 26. A non-transitory storage medium which has software provided thereon, wherein the software, when executed, configures a computer to perform the steps comprising: controlling a first optical electro-magnetic radiation to be provided to a sample and a second optical electro-magnetic radiation to be provided to a reference, wherein a radiation generator source causes at least one of the first electro-magnetic radiation or the second electro-magnetic radiation to have a spectrum which changes over time; determining information associated with a combination of a first polarization component of a third radiation based on the first radiation and a second polarization component of a fourth radiation based on the second radiation with one another; and ensuring that the first and second polarization components are at least approximately orthogonal to one another; detecting first optical signal derived from a first interference between a first set of the first and second polarization components to generate a first digital signal; detecting a second optical signal derived from a second interference between a second set of the first and second polarization components to generate a second digital signal; and modifying at least one of the first digital signal or the second digital signal based on particular data such that the first and second digital signals are in a quadrature relationship with one another. 